Alumni Divisional Achievement Award

The purpose of this award is to recognize alumni who have achieved significant levels of accomplishment in the early to middle stages of their careers. It is designed to publicly acknowledge these “rising stars” who have exhibited exceptional talent and promise.

Winners

2018

Achievement in Natural Sciences

Peter Knappett earned a PhD in geology in 2010. After graduating, he received a prestigious Marie Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Hemholtz Center for Environmental Health from 2010-11 in Munich, Germany, and from 2012-13, took another postdoctoral position at the Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. He is an assistant professor at Texas A&M University with plans to submit his tenure dossier this fall. Knappett’s research focuses on microbial contaminants and arsenic in alluvial aquifers in Bangladesh, Mexico, and the Southeastern United States. His accomplishments include 31 peer-reviewed journal articles, $430,000 in research grants, and advisor to a dozen graduate students. He also received the 2014 Kohut Early Career Award from the Hydrogeology Division of the Geological Society of America. Knappett collaborates with faculty in the UT Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, hosts speakers, and supports EPS with regular monetary contributions.

Achievement in Humanities

In 2000, Clayton McDonald graduated from the Language and World Business Program with a concentration in Spanish. Today, he is the head of global Sales for INTL FCStone, Inc., a publicly held financial services firm specializing in international currency trading in the developing world. He is one of the most active LWB alumni who returns to campus each year to guest lecture and attend poster presentations. His interactions with our students help them envision a career with a degree in Spanish. One student commented, “I had always viewed as being paid to travel as an aspiration I could only dream of, but after hearing from Mr. McDonald, it is now a goal that is more in reach.” In 2015, he established the Clayton McDonald Undergraduate Travel Abroad Scholarship for LWB students. McDonald began his career as a trader at INTL FCStone and worked his way up to his current position. His success reflects the message we try to get across about a degree in the humanities – it can lead to a successful and productive career anywhere in the world because the ability to communication in any language will always be a significant key to success.

2017

Achievement in Humanities

Katherine Sharp Landdeck (’02) earned a PhD in history and worked at the Center for the Study of War and Society while enrolled in graduate studies. She is an associate professor of history at Texas Women’s University with a research focus in public history. She has been recognized globally for her expertise on the Women Air Force Service Pilots of World War II, including work with the media and in documentary films.

Katherine was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work as Contributing Producer and Historian on the film “Silver Wings, Flying Dreams: The Complete Story of the Women Air Force Service Pilots.” Other documentary film work includes as historian on the PBS station KERA’s Emmy-winning film “High Hopes” and the Gracie Award-winning film “We Served Too.”

Achievement in Performing Art

Conrad Ricamora (’12) received his MFA in theatre and in the five years since, has distinguished himself as an artistic talent, playing major roles on and off Broadway and on television. Conrad’s most visible and current work is as the featured character, Oliver Hampton, on ABC’s hugely successful legal series, How To Get Away With Murder, starring Academy Award winner Viola Davis. He has also just completed reprising his breakout role as Ninoy Aquino in a new production of the musical Here Lies Love, by David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim, for which he received a Theatre World Award and was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical. Conrad is also a generous and eloquent supporter of UT and the Department of Theatre.

2016

Humanities Achievement Award

George Demacopoulos (’92) completed a bachelor’s degree in history at UT and a master’s degree in theological studies (with highest honors), at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 1995. He went on to complete a master’s degree and a doctorate in religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the founding director of Fordham University’s Orthodox Christian Studies Center which is now a major research institute devoted to the history and culture of Orthodox Christianity.

Social Sciences Achievement Award

Cortney Piper (’03) earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. A member of the UT swim team, she was named to the Academic All-SEC team and the Lady Vol Honor Roll. She has been recognized as one of the top 40 under 40 in Knoxville, and is a member of the Political Science Advisory Board. Since 2008, she has served as president and founder of the Knoxville-based firm, Piper Communications, which specializes in clean energy communications consulting in the private and public sectors.

2015

Humanities Achievement Award

Chad Goldman (’93), who received a bachelor’s degree with a major in Spanish, is chief creative officer for OmniForce LLC, headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in four countries. The company and its subsidiaries, RaceForce LLC and CauseForce LLC, provide strategic marketing, sponsorship acquisition and production support, publicity, planning, logistics, training, and charitable components for athletic events.

Visual and Performing Arts

Kristin Lewis (’02), who received a master’s degree in music, is an internationally known operatic soprano. She formed the Kristin Lewis Foundation which provides scholarship funding for a promising vocal student to study for a week in Vienna, Austria.